Marigondon, Sibonga contigents shine in "Sinulog sa Kabataan"

High energy level, precise, varied and unique dance movements made the contingents from Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City and Sibonga town grab the grand prize in the elementary and secondary levels of the "Sinulog sa Kabataan sa Lalawigan" yesterday.

The "Tribu Masaulogon" of the Marigondon National High School unseated three-time grand prize winner Compostela National High School, and won P200,000. Its choreographer, Jonathan Rosell Go, also received P30,000.

The Marigondon contingent and the Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City Elementary School copped the best in costume award in the secondary level and elementary levels. Both contingents received P40,000.

Although Marigondon dancers earned the loudest cheers from the crowd, Go said their win came as a surprise considering that they were fitted against the prominent Compostela town contingent.

Go, who hails from Daanbantayan, said he studied the dance movements in the Haladaya Festival, and have them modified to fit to their presentation, which shows how prayers to Sto. Niño helped farmers drive away the drought plaguing their land.

What enthralled the crowd was their unique employment of a closely tied winnowing baskets, the ones used for removing rice chaff, and the harmonizing accompaniment from their instruments to depict life in the farm.

The Compostela National High School placed second while the Lumad Mandawehanon of Mandaue City won the third prize. First-timer San Francisco was fourth while the fifth place went to "Tribu Sinanggiyaw" of Dumanjug town.

For the elementary level, Sibonga's Simala Elementary School awed the judges with its varied dance movements, bagging the top prize of P200,000. Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City Elementary School settled for second place.

Sibonga contingent's choreographer Melina Gonzales-Ignacio, daughter of the multi-awarded choreographer Mark Gonzales, said their presentation was a depiction of their own "Bunga Festival."

According to Josephina Guillen, chairman of the board of judges, the common factors that contributed to the victory of Marigondon and Sibonga contingents were "precision" in their dance movements and the high energy level of the dancers.

Guillen is the president of the Folk Dance Society, and the dance director at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

Last year's third placer, Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City Elementary School, got a notch higher as it landed second this year. Cordova town was third; Oslob town, fourth; and Talisay City, fifth.

The five winners from each category were automatically qualified to join the Sinulog competition on January 15. - Cristina C. Birondo